EMERGENCY EVACUATIONS
ARE YOU READY TO EVACUATE?
In this article, John Robb, segment leader for commercial buildings at Eaton EMEA, explores the key considerations of emergency evecuation plans.
Putting in place a robust evacuation plan has never been a more important task for those who manage health and safety in buildings. The growing and increasingly diverse range of scenarios that can necessitate an evacuation, coupled with the increasing complexity of modern buildings and density of urban areas, make it vital to have a strategy that enables people to evacuate safely and swiftly in an emergency.
Any examination of evacuation
planning should begin with a risk assessment. As part of a formal risk assessment of the building, there are a number of variables to consider in relation to evacuation, beginning with an attempt to identify the possible nature of the danger. Additionally, are there visitors who are unfamiliar
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with the building’s layout? Should the occupants of the building use elevators to get away? Are there any disabled people in the building with special requirements? How safe is the agreed exit route? Would the way out be visible in the event of a power blackout? Are the relevant detection and notification devices in good working order?
For many decades, the primary safety risk faced by commercial buildings was fire but the scope is expanding. Modern threats such as terrorism, social activism and crime should also be considered as potential evacuation triggers.
The world is less secure and we must adapt to this changing landscape. Risks will undoubtedly vary depending on the type and usage of the building in
question and this should be a key item to address as part of the risk assessment, the conducting of which is a formal requirement under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
In the year 2014-2015, there were 15,984 fires in non-domestic buildings, causing 21 fatalities and 1,089 casualties. The preservation of life has to be the most important motivation but there are also financial costs to consider in terms of property and assets. According to figures from 2008, the cost of commercial fire damage in the UK was £865m.
An additional concern is the reputational damage that can result from neglecting to take all reasonable steps to ensure the safety of the people in the building you are responsible for.
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